Just after the renovation break and minutes before torrential rains fell at
The Wood Memorial (G1) winner turned in fractions of :11 2/5, :23 1/5 and :35
“We got a great race track today, and we got to let him do what he normally
The workout was the fastest of 49 recorded at the distance. Managing partner
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“Like Dave was saying to his kids: This is the final hurdle before the big
show. But we have four more hurdles to go until Saturday,” Mullins said. “Every
day you have to wake up and hope that he’s in good health and stays that way
until Saturday.”
Talamo also expressed satisfaction with the tune-up.
“I’m pretty confident, especially today. Like Jeff said, I feel like we
accomplished pretty much what we wanted to do,” said Talamo, a 19-year-old
Louisiana native who had worked I Want Revenge at Churchill Downs twice prior to
Tuesday’s bullet move. “We caught a real good race track today. The last couple
of times, it was a little deep because of rain the day before. But it was great.
He finished up real well; just the way we wanted him to.”
The Southern California-based jockey had gained a world of confidence in I
Want Revenge during their eventful journey in the Wood Memorial, in which he
broke dead last and was blocked behind a wall of horses in mid-stretch before
jetting through a hole on his way to a courageous victory.
“From the Gotham and even before that, we knew he was a pretty good horse.
Obviously, in the Wood, that answered a lot of questions for everyone. To
overcome a trip like that is just incredible,” Talamo said. “He’s so mature for
his age. It’s hard to explain. He does everything so easily.
“He’s definitely one that has a few gears on him, which helps in a race like
the Derby, because there’s a lot of stop and go — hopefully not, but it does
happen. But he’s definitely one of the contenders.”
Preparing for his first ride in the Derby, Talamo has sought out the advice
of several prominent jockeys, past and present.
“I’ve talked to a few guys, Gary Stevens, Robby Albarado, Jerry Bailey,
that’s just to name a few. They’ve all pretty much given me the same advice:
Don’t cry when ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ comes on,” Talamo said.
Talamo will particularly take Stevens’ words to the starting gate with him
for his initial Derby experience.
“He said just keep both feet on both sides and your mind in the middle,”
Talamo said.
Mullins said I Want Revenge would walk the shedrow Wednesday, jog a mile and
gallop a mile on both Thursday and Friday, and jog a mile on Saturday.